Boat anchors

ABSTRACT

The invention provides boat anchors wherein lightweight working parts such as trowels or plows are affixed to heavier, usually metallic frame components that provide desired weight to the composite anchors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to watercraft mooring apparatus and, more particularly, anchors for boats and ships that include conventionally used heavy components, usually formed of metals or ceramics used in conjunction with lighter materials such as non-metallic components for example, polymeric plastics. These components are conveniently formed into working parts such as plows and trowels, which are shaped to perform desired underwater functions more readily and cost effectively than in the case of previously known anchors. Additional advantages such as ease and low cost of shipment are also attainable. Recreational boat anchors are traditionally made of metal, including cast-iron, steel, and aluminum. Weight is necessary for the anchor to reach the seabed, but most performance and holding ability is predicated on design and mechanical principles rather than the weight of the anchor.

The invention provides a new approach for manufacture and assembly of boat anchors, utilizing weighted metal bodies and frames onto which molded lighter weight anchoring attachments of various shapes and styles can be fitted or attached to accomplish different performance needs. This manufacturing concept of the invention can be applied to all conventional types of marine anchors, including but not limited to traditional cast designs, i.e., mushroom anchors, river anchors, Grapnel anchors, as well as traditional steel and aluminum anchor types, i.e., fluke anchors (Danforth style), Navy anchors, and plow-type anchors.

The invention is believed to improve all aspects of marine anchoring for the consumer/user, seller, manufacturer, and market transportation.

An important aspect of the invention relates to use of structures including an elongated handle portion that is dimensionally larger at the bottom. This allows the enlarged portion to serve as a stop for fixing the position of a lighter weight attachment that is mounted around the handle portion.

Within the scope of the invention, each style of anchor is preferably manufactured in the following manner:

The body, frame, or swinging-handle assembly is cast or molded of metal or other heavy material such as cement, clay, or ceramic. The body and frame are designed in accordance with the type of anchor being manufactured, i.e. mushroom, river, grapnel, Navy, fluke-type, or plow anchors.

The body frame or swinging-handle assembly is designed to be dimensionally larger at the bottom, and also designed in accordance with the type of anchor and with the principles of weight-distribution attendant to each particular type of anchor design. This allows the bottom portion of the body/frame to serve as a positive-stop locator device for an anchor performance attachment made of plastic or other lightweight non-metal material.

This also provides additional weight and structural support directly behind the plastic performance-providing attachment and serves the following purposes:

1. A positive stop which holds the performance attachment in position atop the base and/or frame.

2. Provides weight to drive and set the anchor from behind, in the direction of travel for anchoring.

3. Provides structural support and reinforcement behind the (non-metal) performance attachment to reduce flexing and improve anchor performance.

4. The width, size and shape of body and frame bottom sections are designed to position the performance attachments, which may include dishes, flukes, tines, and plows, in orientations which are best suited for each type of anchor, such as mushroom, river, Navy, grapnel, fluke, or plow, in order to dig and hold in the anchoring application. For example, the bottom sections (crown plate assembly) of traditional fluke anchors are designed to elevate the fulcrums of the handle and cross-members above the seabed. When lying flat on the seabed, the crown plate elevates the fulcrum at a slight angle designed to correspond with the functional angles of the handle and flukes, usually 29 to 36 degree angle. In accord with a manufacturing concept of this invention, the body and frames resemble dimensions of a traditional crown plate assembly and the swinging handle of a fluke anchor for purposes of orientation. The functional aspects of flukes, blades, tines, plow head, etc., which dig into the seabed for anchoring and holding are performed in each embodiment by a light weight plastic attachment or adapter made of lightweight non-metal material.

Adapters of the invention include design and performance features of various traditional and non-traditional anchor types. Adapters can be molded or machined from various materials generally included within the scope of synthetic polymeric plastics, with specific materials determined by performance requirements of each anchor type. For example, larger ‘blades’ may be formed from fiberglass reinforced polyesters or nylon types of reinforced material for strength and rigidity, while other anchor types, such as traditional river anchors, perform better with a more flexible or malleable material such as polypropylene, high density polyethylene, or polyethylene terephthalate, etc. Each performance attachment or adapter is designed in accordance with performance requirements needed for a particular type of anchor and constructed of materials best suited to anticipated anchoring conditions. Thus, more rigid materials are used for firm seabed conditions but more flexible materials can be used for rocky or otherwise contoured or structural seabed conditions in which flexibility could improve performance.

Use of polymeric plastics allows incorporation of design features which would be difficult or expensive to produce with traditional methods, including but not limited to:

1. Providing a thinner, sharper leading edge to facilitate digging into the seabed.

2. Contours, drains, and design features that improve anchor hold characteristics and ease retrieval of anchor.

3. Different types of performance attachments or adapters can be fitted to the same base or frame dependent on a specific anchoring environment. For example, a mushroom or dish shaped adapter may be fitted to the base or frame for a soft sand seabed, while a grapnel/tine style adapter may be fitted to the same base or frame for a rocky or structural seabed.

4. The anchor may be assembled and disassembled as needed, requiring less space on the boat and more efficient manufacturing, assembly and product distribution.

5. The weight of a functional anchor is greatly reduced by use of the invention, thus improving fuel economy for boats as well as simplifying various aspects of manufacturing and product distribution.

6. Damaged adapters can be replaced on an existing body or frame, reducing cost that would be incurred by replacement the entire anchor system.

The various anchor types and styles can be manufactured and distributed in dimensionally smaller package configurations providing significantly reduced weight relative to prior art anchors, thus reducing fuel, freight, handling and storage costs typically associated with traditional anchors. Yet, the various anchor types can perform in similar fashion to traditional “metal” types and styles of anchors. Consumers are provided with options to use a selected base or body with differing performance attachments and adapters adapted to differing anchoring conditions including seabed surfaces, waves and wind, etc.

Base/frame and adapter designs can separately or together replicate design features of most traditional anchors, including, but not limited to, cast shape anchors, i.e. mushroom, river, grapnel, Navy, and plow-type anchors), fluke anchors (with solid-shank/handle, slip-ring, and Richter-type release systems), and plow-type anchors (with solid or hinged shank). This aspect of the invention allows manufacturers to minimize the number of parts, processes, steps and materials required in the manufacture of marine anchors, while offering a broader assortment of functional products at lower overall cost.

DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1-3, 8 and 9 are front elevational views of a vertical metal shaft used as a component of anchors of this invention;

FIGS. 4 and 6 are side and top views, respectively, of light weight components used to form an embodiment referred to as a mushroom style anchor;

FIGS. 5 and 7 are side and top views, respectively used to form a modified version of a mushroom style anchor of the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are side and top views, respectively of lightweight components used to form another embodiment known as a “river style” anchor;

FIGS. 12-16 show various components used to produce a “Navy” style anchor embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 17-20 show components used to produce a Richter Style” anchor embodiment in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the drawings, shaft 10 serves as an attachment point for a cable or rope for securing the anchor to a watercraft. Attachment flanges 12 and base 14 serve as means for attaching a lightweight base 16 or 18 to the shaft 10. Openings 20 provide entry slots for flanges 12, which secure the parts in assembled relationship if rotated after assembly. The same relationship is provided in FIGS. 8-11 for securing base 22 to shaft 10.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12-16 upright members 32 fit into openings 35 and uprights 30 extend into slot 36 to provide attachment means for assembling the components as illustrated. Yet another method of assembling light weight components 44 to upright base components 40 is shown in FIGS. 17-20. An elongated slot 48 is used to accommodate the irregularly shaped upright part 40. 

1. A water submersible anchor for watercraft comprising: an elongated stem portion formed of a dense rigid material, said stem portion having a distal end that has a diameter greater than that of the main body of the stem, and a lower density component having an opening there through dimensioned to fit around said main body but stopped by said distal end.
 2. An anchor according to claim 1 wherein said lower density component comprises a polymeric plastic.
 3. An anchor according to claim 1 wherein said component comprises a fiberglass reinforced plastic resin.
 4. An anchor according to claim 2 wherein said polymeric plastic is selected from nylon, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate and fiber reinforced polyester resin. 